Ottawa, Canada, Jun 27, 2005 / 12:00 am (CNA).- The debate on Canada’s same-sex marriage bill begins in the House of Commons today. The bill already passed the first two readings in the House and was before a parliamentary hearings committee for the first two weeks of June.

On Sunday, Canadian Justice Minister Irwin Cotler told CBC Newsworld that the same-sex marriage bill, C-38, could come to a vote this week.

Several media have reported that Conservative House Leader Jay Hill has said many Conservative MPs will speak against bill C-38 but that the passage of the bill is a foregone conclusion.

The Liberal government won a vote last week to extend the parliamentary session into the summer in order to pass the budget and same-sex marriage bills. They won the budget vote by five ballots, opening the way for a debate and a vote on the same-sex marriage bill.